By Mary Drier (Contact / Staff Bio)
November 7, 2009 - 08:58 a.m. EST

TUSCOLA COUNTY — Unlike federal and state lawmakers, Tuscola County Commissioners know the faces of their constituents... they are their friends, neighbors and family members.

When Federal government tightens finances, that trickles down to the states, and from there to counties, villages and cities.

“We (county commissioners) are the buffer between what the feds and state (do). They cut funds to us, and we have to make that up by cuts, too,” said Tuscola County Commission Chair Jerry Peterson. “We have to make cuts to services because we just don’t have the money.

“Commissioners, village councils, and township boards are the closest to the people, so we are the ones who hear when people are unhappy. They don’t go to Washington or Lansing, they come to us. The decisions we have to make aren’t easy, and ones we don’t want to do but have no choice.”

Unlike the federal government states, counties and other municipalities have to have a balanced budget in place before their next fiscal year starts.

Because of “budgetary reasons” to start accomplishing that, commissioners proposed cutting all non-mandated services, which include courthouse security, Friend of the Court security, Michigan State University (MSU) Extension, planning commission, Thumb Narcotics Unit (TNU), emergency services, veteran services, Economic Development Commission (CDC), liquor and traffic control, parks, animal control, community corrections, remonumentation and marine safety.

Because of an arrangement with Sanilac County, animal control is self-funding, and TNU and marine services were also set aside because they are primarily funded with grants.

Totally cutting all non-mandated services would save approximately $530,745, but would have sweeping repercussions.

However, that proposal was pulled from the agenda at the most recent county meeting for further study and discussion.

At Tuesday’s commissioners’ committee meeting, the latest proposal is just to cut funding to MSU, EDC, planning commission, emergency services by about 20 percent, and to cut veterans affairs about 10 percent.

And, funding for the county park, liquor and traffic control, and remonumentation remain cut.

“Public response to the cuts in agriculture extension, 4-H and EDC were principally the reason (for the change). These cuts would have potentially affected more people in the county, especially the ag community and associated 4-H Programs, and needed to be evaluated more in terms of loss of benefit,” explained Commissioner Tom Bardwell, who chairs the finance committee along with Peterson.

“These took a 20-percent cut versus total elimination. With that said, we will continue to monitor the county in terms of expense and declining revenue as we progress into the new year to assure we maintain a balance budget,” added Bardwell.

Those changes are expected to save about $227,193.

The rest of the projected $1.3 million deficit for 2010 is expected to come from budget and personnel cuts.

Commissioners are expected to address the budget again at their next meeting 8 a.m. Tuesday at the Tuscola County Courthouse Annex.

Mary Drier is a staff writer for the Tuscola County Advertiser. She can be reached at drier@tcadvertiser.com.